Chapter 6: The Battle of Nine Suns

As the company made their way to the Celestial Peak, where the remnants of the Nine Suns were rumored to be dormant, anxiety was palpable. The journey had been long and perilous, but nothing compared to the weight Eira carried, even though the gang had all been broken by their previous experiences. The act of rekindling the Nine Suns, which might perhaps rescue the planet but also destroy her, required her.

Above them, the sky seemed menacing, an infinite expanse of drab gray that gave the impression that the heavens were preparing for something terrible. Before them, the Celestial Peak loomed, jagged and menacing, like a shattered glass crown soaring toward the empty sky.

"You are you certain about this? With his palm resting on the hilt of his sword, Alaric strolled beside Eira, his words breaking the stillness. His normally impenetrable, icy eyes were now filled with compassion.

Heart heavy, Eira cast a quick glance at him. She was aware of his true request. "I must be," she mutely said. "The forecast—"

Alaric spoke more harshly than he had meant to when he said, "Screw the prophecy." "Just because an old book says something doesn't mean you have to die. We'll figure something out.

Eira gave him a melancholy little grin. "You and I both understand that it's not that easy."

Tyr and Lysandra looked at each other from behind them. The thief's normally jovial expression was dampened as concern filled her face. "We've experienced worse," Lysandra mumbled; she didn't even believe what she had said.

Their breath was taken away as they finally saw the Celestial Altar in its entirety from the summit. The Nine Suns were lying there, aligned in a perfect circle. These were enormous spheres, with their once bright brilliance reduced to barely perceptible embers. A mysterious force barrier, glistening with age-old magic and seeming to hum with the might of the gods, encircled them.

The bright student who had figured out the prophecy, Xiao Li, was already studying the barrier intently. With an air of wonder in his voice, he said, "The suns are connected to each other, like threads in a web." "The others should follow if we reignite one."

Alaric scowled. "And it's up to Eira to do it?"

Xiao Li wavered. The tradition states that the flame of Prometheus is the only thing powerful enough to rekindle the Suns. You are the last member of his bloodline, Eira.

With her heritage crushing down on her like a veil, Eira took a step forward. Her own flame flickered, feeling the might of the Nine Suns. Their old light was beckoning to her, and she could sense it longing to be restored. Though dread was there in her body, it wasn't the only feeling she experienced. And there was hope, hope for the planet destroyed by darkness, hope for the people she had come to love.

However, the earth underneath them shook before she could extend her hand.

A resounding, visceral growl resounded across the peak, and from the out of the mountain shadows, a horde of monsters materialized. Their bodies distorted by black sorcery; they were hideous, twisted creatures. The god Kel, who had been pursuing them from the beginning, stood at their helm, his face concealed by a helmet shaped like a dragon's skull.

"You expected it to be that simple?" Kael's voice was like gravel, cold and mocking. "You thought you could steal back the light without a fight?"

Alaric drew his sword in an instant, stepping in front of Eira. "Looks like we've got company."

Eira's heart raced. The time for doubt was over. She was the Flame of Prometheus, and now she would prove it.

The Battle Begins

The clash of steel and magic filled the air as the gang engaged Kael's army of the dark. Alaric ripped through his enormous opponents like a storm, his blade a blur. Even without his supernatural abilities, Tyr battled with the ferocity of a deity, defeating foes twice his size with sheer might. As Lysandra danced through the turmoil, her daggers gleamed in the sunshine, lethal and swift, while Xiao Li stood behind, erecting wards to protect the group.

However, the true conflict was taking place within Eira.

Eira approached the Celestial Altar, her hands shaking as she lifted them toward the first sun, as the others battled to repel the army. Even though it was inactive, she could still feel the intense heat coming from it. She felt the pull of the Suns, and the flame within of her erupted to life.

She closed her eyes and muttered to herself, "You can do this." "For the globe... for them..."

She took a deep breath, reached out, and touched her light to the Sun.

She had never felt anything like the electrical spike that went through her. She felt as though the very fire of creation itself was pouring into her veins, giving her an inexhaustible sense of heat and limitless vitality. As the Sun burst into a dazzling blaze of red and gold, Eira experienced a sensation of being fully alive.

But the hurt came on quickly after.

The flame was scorching her from the inside out and it threatened her. She stumbled back, gasping, as the force was almost too much for her. She heard Alaric yelling her name as her eyesight became blurry, but it seemed so far away.

I have to keep going now.

Eira gripped the second Sun tightly, her teeth chattering. She ignited the next Sun, then the next, and the fire within of her grew until it pushed her to her limits. She felt herself evaporating with each Sun that blazed to life, and each one sapped more of her vitality.

The Last Sun

Eira's body was barely hanging on as she arrived at the ninth Sun. Her breath was ragged, and a hot fire burned on her skin. Even though she could feel her power ebbing, she had to keep going for now.

Her fingers shook as she extended her reach one last time, touching the last Sun.

All of a sudden, nothing happened. Everybody in the globe held their breath.

Then the Sun burst into flame, illuminating the sky above them.

With their blazing fire, the Nine Suns resurrected, driving out the gloom that had dogged the planet. Kael let out a yell of rage as his power was taken away, and the monsters he had called cried in agony as the light consumed them.

However, Eira fell to the ground as the Suns flared again, the flame within her flickering dangerously low.

"Eira." Rushing to her side and clutching her lifeless body in his arms, Alaric said in a panicked tone. The heat inside of her was almost completely gone, her skin feeling chilly to the touch.

"Please stay with me," he begged, his voice cracking. "Refrain from leaving."

Eira opened her eyes and cast a dreamy, faraway stare. She muttered, a little grin playing on her lips, "I... I did it."

Alaric hugged her tight, tears stinging his eyes. "Yes," he gasped, "you did."

The Repercussions

Though it cost a lot, the war was won. The light of the Nine Suns shone brightly in the sky, restoring the planet to its former splendor. However, the gang realized the real cost of their victory as they gathered around Eira.

Though her light had faded, Eira had rescued the planet. None of them could predict whether she would live or die.

Thus, the troop clung to the notion that the Flame of Prometheus would rise when the sun fell on the battlefield blaze once more and that their hearts would always harbor the spark she had rekindled.